OPINION
LIFESTYLE
Look to the East: Haile Selassie and the Rastafari Movement
Yaw Adjei-Gyamfi explores the links between Emperor Haile Selassie and Rastafarians and considers why he remains a source of inspiration for Rastas all over the world.
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How important are television commercials in shaping the society, to debunk or entrench stereotypes? Maggi's latest commercial has been the topic of debate in Nigeria, with many referring to the commercial as being misogynistic.
Fleeing forced marriage and in pursuit of an education, Kafia Mahdi left Somalia. After almost a year, she crossed from Serbia into Hungary where she has remained under protected status. It is in Hungary that the 19-year-old’s transformation from child refugee to fashion star has occurred.
Anti-gay rhetoric has steadily been on the rise in Tanzania since President John Magufuli took office. It is not the rhetoric that citizens need to be mindful of, however. The government is taking surveillance and intimidation action towards perceived homosexual activity. Now, it seems, the mere act of sitting in a pair is being viewed as criminal.
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Complicated beauty rituals are no longer a purely feminine preoccupation. The current male beauty standard demands a level of effort and curation that men have not been exposed to in the past. The pressure to attain this image ideal is even higher with social perceptions and stereotypes.
Nigerian painter and sculptor Ben Enwonwu was one of the first modern African artists to win international critical acclaim. His career has increased the global visibility and proliferation of modern African art. An impact crater on the planet Mercury has even been named “Enwonwu” in his honour.
Yaw Adjei-Gyamfi explores the links between Emperor Haile Selassie and Rastafarians and considers why he remains a source of inspiration for Rastas all over the world.
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- New in Sex & Relationships
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Most women who opt for sex toys prefer vibrators above all the other options available to them for self-pleasure. Vibrators are used for clitoral stimulation yet – absurdly – they are designed to resemble phalluses.
The decriminalisation of the private use of cannabis in South Africa could – and should – pave the way for the decriminalization of sex work, says Zanta Nkumane.
Pegging is not high on heterosexual couples’ list of things to do in bed, but maybe it should be. The act of trying something new and subverting gender roles in the sack can lead to increased pleasure and healthy conversations for both parties.
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African governments and their partners have a duty to prioritise the health of women and children through the provision of contraceptives.
Hook-up culture, whether we acknowledge it or not, is prevalent. People are having casual sex all the time, yet there seems to be a lack of common understanding on the rules of engagement. With the help of a group of 30 somethings, we established a few universal dos and don’ts.
How does the black man who is selfish with his body find pleasure? Where does the selfishness come from? Perhaps his destructive kind of ecstasy contributes to the toxic way he relates with other races.
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Academic Stella Nyanzi has been daring in her critique of Uganda's Yoweri Museveni. She now faces jail for her outspokenness.
Why do African leaders still maintain the colonial structures of the Berlin Conference? It's 134 years since the conference that changed the whole continent. The solution to the problems Africa faces, which stem from the Berlin Conference, is in the hands of Africans.
Celebrated Kenyan writer Ngugi Thiong’o's remarkable novel, Matigari, is being adapted to film by Nollywood Director Kunle Afolayan. The revelation comes at an opportune time when African storytelling in film and dance has gained global prominence in recent years.
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Government remains the major funder of universities. But it hasn't met its obligations even though many institutions face serious infrastructure decay.
Are politicians and parliamentarians across Africa cut from the same cloth? Sierra Leone's MPs are pushing for a 300% salary increase, reinforcing the statement, join African politics if you want to be wealthy without much effort.
Women identify more with their government representatives based on ethnicity rather than gender.
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Trokosi is an ancient practice in West Africa where virgin girls, some as young as six are sent as slaves to make amends for wrongs committed by their families.
Turning prisons into a market opportunity could open them up to corruption.
Future Africa Forum founder and Zimbabwean entrepreneur Gerald Chirinda says the future is African. As Africa's story changes, young people from the continent have the responsibility to get involved in changing the narrative.
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The Rwanda Tribunal convicted people for indescribably horrific crimes and some are asking for early release.
Samasource is social enterprise on a mission. Its aim is to reduce global poverty by outsourcing digital work to unemployed people in impoverished countries.
Joyline Maenzanise talks to the young Zimbabwean sportswoman who is breaking down gender-based barriers in sport.
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China’s massive investment on the continent continues with the opening of Africa’s longest suspension bridge in Maputo, Mozambique. Among other improvements, the 3km-long bridge will reduce travel time between Maputo and KwaZulu-Natal from six hours to 90 minutes. But it comes at a cost to locals.
Telecommunications giant Safaricom, in partnership with Western Union, is rolling out Kenya’s revolutionary mobile money transfer, financing and microfinancing service M-Pesa in more than 500 000 Western Union agent locations across the world.
Counting is under way in Madagascar after millions of people cast their ballots. The voter turnout stands at about 40% and so far no major anomalies have been detected in the polls. However, there have been complaints of voters not finding their names on the list, despite having registered
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Africa's fifth-largest bridge has been opened in Jinja, the eastern region of Uganda, dubbed "Source of the Nile Bridge". The cable-supported bridge is 525 metres long and is expected to “last for 120 years", according to President Yoweri Museveni.
An ongoing debate to stop the imposition of Value-Added Tax (VAT) on sanitary products; as this classifies them as luxury and/or non-essential goods; has ended in a victory for women. The South African government has resolved to abolish the payment of 15% Value-Added Tax on sanitary pads to "restore the dignity of our people."
Liberia's President George Weah has declared that the University of Liberia and all other Public Universities in Liberia will now be free for all undergraduates. Do you think this is feasible and can other African countries afford to offer free tertiary education?
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